title: Biological features of novel avian influenza A (H7N9) virus.
abstract: Human infection associated with a novel reassortant avian influenza H7N9 virus has recently been identified in China. A total of 132 confirmed cases and 39 deaths have been reported. Most patients presented with severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Although the first epidemic has subsided, the presence of a natural reservoir and the disease severity highlight the need to evaluate its risk on human public health and to understand the possible pathogenesis mechanism. Here we show that the emerging H7N9 avian influenza virus poses a potentially high risk to humans. We discover that the H7N9 virus can bind to both avian-type (α2,3-linked sialic acid) and human-type (α2,6-linked sialic acid) receptors. It can invade epithelial cells in the human lower respiratory tract and type II pneumonocytes in alveoli, and replicated efficiently in ex vivo lung and trachea explant culture and several mammalian cell lines. In acute serum samples of H7N9-infected patients, increased levels of the chemokines and cytokines IP-10, MIG, MIP-1β, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8 and IFN-α were detected. We note that the human population is naive to the H7N9 virus, and current seasonal vaccination could not provide protection.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health and Family Planning Commission, Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Jianfang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Dayan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rongbao
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Baihui
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jingdong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yonglin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wenfei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Shumei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Libo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hejiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiaodan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Liqi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weijuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Leying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bo
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Yongkun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cuilin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yuquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiaodong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Shiwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Weizhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Guizhen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Dexin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yuelong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001717:Birds / Q000821:virology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002460:Cell Line; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood; D002681:China; D003429:Cross Reactions / Q000276:immunology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000821:virology; D058507:Host Specificity; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000276:immunology; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D008168:Lung / Q000821:virology; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014132:Trachea / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D018925:Chemokines; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid